Steve Friess

Columnist

Steve Friess writes the State of Play column for PlayUSA twice a week. He's a veteran gambling-industry reporter who began covering Las Vegas in 1996 and covered the openings of resorts in Asia, Europe, and across the U.S. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, New Republic, Time, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, New York magazine, and many others. He, his husband, their children and three Poms live in Ann Arbor.

Posts by Steve Friess:

credit card payments study by UNLV on problem gambling

UNLV’s iGaming Payments Study May Be History’s Most Important Gambling Addiction Research

Sightline data shows that "payments can help identify markers of harm," in new UNLV study of problem gambling behavior.

Posted on: May 10, 2024 | | Steve Friess

State of Play PlayUSA student housing college dorm

Betting Operators Need To End College Tie-Ins Now Before Lawmakers Do

It is on casino and sports betting operators to discontinue partnerships with colleges where the vast majority of students are underage.

Posted on: May 10, 2024 | | Steve Friess

sunset over back of Hollywood sign gambling industry

Hollywood Shows Its Vegas Problem Again With ‘Elvis,’ ‘Poker Face’ And ‘Hacks’

Vegas is often documented inaccurately in Hollywood films and TV from geography to historical references. Here are some new instances.

Posted on: May 10, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Wheel Of Fortune Slots Changed View Of Casinos

How Wheel Of Fortune Slots, IGT Were Game-Changers For Gambling In America

Slot machines based on “Wheel of Fortune” turned casino visits from something shady into a broadly acceptable entertainment option.

Posted on: May 9, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State of Play ESPN, Penn Move Makes Total Sense

Steve Friess: Why The ESPN-Penn Marriage Is A Match Made In iGaming Heaven

Penn finally has a logical media partner in Disney's ESPN and Barstool goes back to being the tempestuous thorn in the sports world’s side.

Posted on: February 19, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play Betting On Trump

Steve Friess: Trump’s Betting Market Resilience Is Impressive, But Is It Misleading?

PredictIt allows “investments” on a range of political questions, including whether former President Donald Trump wins the 2024 election.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play NHL Gambling Ban

Steve Friess: NHL Suspension Makes NFL Gambling Rules Look Almost Rational

Shane Pinto's punishment is baffling because it had been widely understood that NHL players are only prohibited from betting on NHL games.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play DraftKings 911 Parlay

Steve Friess: Someday That 9/11 Parlay Will Probably Be OK, But Not Now

The news media and social media had a field day with the DraftKings NEVER FORGET parlay. The iGaming company took it down and apologized.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State of Play It's Time To End Smoking In Casinos

Steve Friess: Scheduled Discussion On Casino Smoking Sparks Hope Gambling Industry Will Finally Ban It

Smoking in public is not about personal freedom. It is about violating other people’s personal freedom. Casinos need to stop allowing it.

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

Steve Friess State Of Play: Political Gambling Lawsuit Worth Watching

Steve Friess: This Lawsuit Could Kill Political Wagering For A Generation

Americans legally can put money on predicting just about anything Why is wagering on who takes power in Washington, D.C., so sacrosanct?

Posted on: February 16, 2024 | | Steve Friess

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